Bikes as Art

I cannot ride my bike enough in this city. It’s electric. Unlike NYC, where I am almost positive riding will get me killed, San Francisco has been an absolute playground for Blanca (left).

Not only does cycling help keep me fit (kinda) and provide all the adrenaline I need, it has also helped reshape my values. I am much more environmentally and civically conscious. As a proud, card-carrying member of the SF Bicycling Coalition and Spur Urban Center I am eager to volunteer for a few upcoming events to help promote this healthy and creative mode of travel.

One of these kick ass events is coming up this weekend. It’s hosted by ArtCrank and sponsored by Chrome Messenger Bags, a SF cycling staple.

This event, like another I’ll touch on soon, is a great way to embed an urban sport like cycling into street art culture. That’s not to say that there isn’t already a natural connection. Bikes are just extensions of our personal brands. They reflect who we are and what we have to say. They are easily customized and designed to brighten up the city streets and flash some style while weaving in and out of frustrated motorists.

The fixie trend has definitely brought some additional awareness about cycling too (although I’m not too keen on riding something without brakes). Either way, bicycles are evolving as a legitimate creative medium that should be recognized.

Recently, one gallery connected the dots and dedicated a huge installation to the bicycle. The exhibit, which was titled “Bicycles: people + ideas in motion” was curated by Lorie Mertes, Director at The Galleries at Moore. The final product was an exploration of the art and design of bikes and their impact on urban landscape.

I wish I could’ve seen Ryan Humphrey’s installation (below) in person. Mertes was quoted saying that “Humphrey draws inspiration from Evel Knievel, Eddy Van Halen and Duchamp.” That’s awesome.

Biking in the city

Last night I joined the Spur Young Urbanists for a panel on biking in the city. The Spur Urban Center in a non-profit that has served as San Francisco’s major civic planning organization since 1959 and still maintains its original goal “to improve the quality of urban life and to promote greater understanding of urban issues…” The building is located on 654 Mission Street (between 3rd & New Montgomery) and is, as it should be, an architectural masterpiece (Spur would be an interesting organization to work into my planning curriculum this year too).

The panel was comprised of members from the San Francisco Bicycling Coalition and the Bike Kitchen, a local do-it-yourself repair shop. The panel led discussions and Q&A on a variety of issues including: future bike lanes, safety tips, proper attire, everyday maintenance and quick repairs.

Although we covered a number of important biking topics, I was most intrigued with the offerings at the Bike Kitchen. The shop is set up with all the tools and parts you need to fix or build a bike. They also provide open shop hours for minimal costs and weekly classes for a more personal, one-on-one instruction.

I have been looking for a bike mechanic apprenticeship for a while now, so it is encouraging to know that I can volunteer and learn bike maintenance at the same time. I can’t wait to visit next week to volunteer and start building my own bike.